Wrist mounted paddle grip

ABSTRACT

A wrist engageable paddling device adapted for engagement over the end of a paddle or oar. The device features a member having a hooked portion extending from a wristband. The hooked portion has a curve adapted for removable engagement over the oar or paddle and is contoured for a comfortable positioning between the palm of the user gripping the paddle. A flexible engagement of the member to the wrist strap provides for rotation of the member to a stowed position with its distal end engaged over a side edge of the strap. Neoprene or other compressible material provides for a cushioning for the user&#39;s arm and palm.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/816,210 filed Jun. 23, 2006. The device herein described and enclosed relates generally to paddles employed for paddling small watercraft. More specifically, the disclosed device relates to a wrist mounted device employing a rotationally engaged hook portion providing for a mechanical engagement between the user's arm and the paddle while paddling the water craft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Kayaking and other row sports are becoming increasingly popular in the United States and abroad. There are many different kinds of small, personal water craft as well as various means to propel them manually such as with oars or paddles.

Boats and paddles vary greatly and are designed with the buyers intent in mind. Thus, there are calm water kayaks, white water kayaks, sea kayaks, river canoes, calm water canoes and a myriad of others. Kayaks first came into existence in the Arctic North, a type of canoe built by Eskimos by stretching animal hides over a frame. While technologically improved, modern kayaks, are made from anything from plastic to Kevlar to fiberglass. However, they share the same basic cockpit design as the original Eskimo-inspired water craft which maintains the user close to the surface of the water thereby yielding superb control.

The sport of kayaking is said to be growing almost faster than any other “extreme” sport, second only to snow boarding. Much of this growth can be attributed to the improved hull design of kayaks. These improved designs provide increased performance which allow tricks such as wave surfing, spins and cartwheels easier to accomplish thereby taking the sport in a new direction. Additional performance enhancement has been achieved where Kayak designers have taken cues from surfboard and wakeboard designs thereby creating kayak shapes that plane and lift the kayak out of the water. This enhancement in the riding level of such kayaks provides for new tricks by making them easier to accomplish for both novice and experienced kayakers.

The popularity of this new brand of kayaking has inspired promoters to start holding kayak rodeos across the country. These competitions are held to showcase new and inventive tricks being performed in kayaks. Consequently, the kayak, once a simple means of transportation, has evolved into an outdoor toy of sorts with its usual transport function being supplanted by the desire to push user performance limits as well as adrenaline.

Contrary to the rapid development of the kayak itself and other small personal water craft, the paddle or oar which must be employed to manually propel them has been virtually stagnant in development for some years. The conventional kayak paddle consists of a shaft that is generally 1.25 inches in diameter. On at least one end and more often upon both ends of the shaft, blades are positioned which may be perpendicular to one another or parallel, depending on user preference.

Rafting and canoe paddles are similar in structure; however, rafting paddles are generally slightly shorter than their kayak counterparts. Further, instead of being double-bladed, one end of the shaft is fitted with a T-grip for gripping and ease of use.

The shaft of conventional paddles is made of a lightweight non-corrosive material and is often sectional, thereby providing an ability to disassemble the paddle for storage or transport. As a general rule, no structure is provided on the shaft itself to ease the gripping of the paddle by the user. This lack of structure for hand and paddle engagement leaves the user to modify a new paddle as they see fit. Common modifications include athletic tape for increased friction and comfort as well as thin rubber or neoprene sleeves which engage over the shaft to increase grip potential by the user's hands. Formed of compressible flexible material, the sleeves also dampen vibration and provide padding to the hand during a long day of paddling.

Due to the increased popularity of these small watercraft sports, long term wear and tear injuries to the hands and arms of the user, resulting from years of paddling, have been magnified. Rowing, whether in a canoe with a one bladed paddle or in a kayak with a double bladed paddle, is an exhausting and repetitive motion favoring the overuse of the wrist, elbow and hands. Overuse of these parts of the body most commonly result in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (hands), Arthritis (hands, elbow, wrist) and Tendinitis (elbow, wrist). Further injury may occur as a result of simple hand fatigue from grasping a paddle for multiple hours. Furthermore, if an accident were to happen in the open water leaving a user's hands unusable, they would be unable to paddle to shore to seek the attention they need.

Thus, there is an unmet need for a device that allows the user an enhanced means of engagement to the paddle. Such a device should reduce the hand strength required to grip the paddle without rendering the paddle less effective during use. Furthermore, there is a need to provide such a device which may engage the paddle to the arm of the user while the user's hands are completely free from gripping the paddle thereby enabling paddling without direct hand contact with the paddle. Still further, such a device should allow the user to reduce their gripping force on the paddle and even disengage their hand while paddling, to thereby reduce hand fatigue and injury. Additionally, such a device should provide an easy release of engagement of the user from the paddle should other use of the hands become necessary. Additionally, such a device should provide for both easy stowing and offer a comfortable non-chaffing engagement to the wrist of the user. Further, such a device should provide for an enhanced engagement of the paddle to the arm, yet concurrently provide some shock absorption to reduce fatigue and injuries. Lastly, and of particular concern, such a device should float in the event it became detached from the user and should be constructed of easily spotted material so as to prevent it from becoming lost in the water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is disclosed and described herein a device that when in the preferred mode allows the user to employ substantially less grip force upon the paddle when employing a paddle to manually propel a small personal water craft such as a kayak or canoe. The disclosed device also allows the user to completely disengage their hands from the paddle and impart force to the paddle to continue propulsion. The device is removably engaged to the user at the wrist and is made of a comfortable non-chafing material which will float and can be easily seen if it becomes disengaged from the user.

IN a preferred mode, the device consists of a strap adapted for encircling the wrist. Attached to the underside or palm side of the wrist strap by a flexible means of engagement is a planar hook extending out from the palm. This hook, when engaged to the paddle, surrounds the shaft of the paddle while the hand concurrently grips the paddle over the hook. The strap-engaged hook in this engagement with the paddle transfers much of the force from paddling to the arms and shoulders and thereby away from the hands and wrists which allows for a looser grip. Should the user finds it necessary to disengage the hook portion of the device from the paddle, the flexible connection allows the user to easily disengage the hook and rotate it 180 degrees along the axis of the arm to an engagement of the hook portion to the wrist strap, thereby proving a secure location when not engaged to the paddle.

The hook portion of the device is best formed from a strong and durable but also slightly flexible material. Plastics such as polypropylene or nylon, composites like fiberglass or carbon fiber, or lightweight metals such as aluminum work well to provide the substantially rigid yet flexible portion of the hook. The hook portion in the preferred mode is surrounded by a polypropylene or like material webbing cover which is stitched to form the cover. This webbing or other fabric type cover mitigates wear to the paddle, adds buoyancy to the device, and provides comfort to the hand while engaged over the hook when gripping the paddle. An upper surface of the hook which is in contact with the palm when the user's hand is engaged to the paddle, in a particularly preferred mode of the device, is fitted with a strip of neoprene or similar cushioning material to add further buoyancy to the device and comfort to the hand when engaging the paddle over the hook.

The base of the hook, opposite its hooked distal end, is connected to the wrist strap portion by a flexible means of engagement thereby allowing rotation of the hook along the axis of the arm. This rotation allows the hook to move with the hand during rowing or paddling and allows the user to disengage the hook portion from the paddle and rotate it toward the elbow to an engagement of the distal end of the hook with the wrist strap. This engagement provides for a means to secure the hook portion out of the way of the user when not in use. Means for flexible or rotational engagement is achieved using a fabric hinge to attach the base portion of the hook to the wrist strap. By appropriately curving the distal end of the hook, the flexibly connected hook can thereby be rotated along the axis of the arm to frictionally engage the distal end of the hook to the wrist strap, securing the hook out of the way of the user and rendering it unable to interfere when not in use.

The wrist strap portion of the device formed of fabric such as a polypropylene or like material webbing provides further buoyancy. The inside of the wrist strap, which is adapted for encirclement and contact with the wrist, is lined with a compressible material such as neoprene, providing additional buoyancy as well as increased comfort and shock absorption. Engagement of the two ends of the wrist strap is provided by a fastener which in the current preferred mode is by a hook and loop style fabric. Such an engagement provides a soft fastener and adjustable overlap of the two ends of the strap thereby allowing one size strap to fit all users. Additionally provided, in a preferred mode of the device, small mounts on the top of the wrist strap allow the user a means to engage a wrist watch or compass to the exterior surface of the wriststrap for easy viewing.

Also provided on the device is a means of floatation should it become detached from the wrist of the user which concurrently provides a means for visual enhancement to thereby easily visually spot the device from a distance or in low light. Due to the liberal use of materials like neoprene and polypropylene, webbing in the construction of the device buoyancy is easily achieved by simple material choice. By using neoprene and polypropylene webbing, bright color options are available allowing the device to be easily spotted from a distance or in poor lighting conditions.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description of illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for designing of other methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

It is an object of this invention to provide the user a means of engagement to a paddle which allows a looser hand grip to impart force to a paddle employed to manually propel a small personal water craft.

It is an object of this invention to provide the user a means of engagement to a paddle to the arm, during periods where the paddle is not gripped by the hands, thereby allowing the user to stroke the paddle without hand engagement to the paddle.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a means to retract the device out of the user's way while still being worn.

Lastly, it is an object of this invention to provide a device that will float should it become detached from the user, made from bright colors that are easily seen from a distance or in poor lighting conditions and of a comfortable non-chaffing material.

These, together with other objects and advantages, which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of the construction and method as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts the disclosed device in the as-worn position on the wrist of a user with the distal end of the hook portion removably engaging a paddle.

FIG. 2 depicts an opposite view of FIG. 1 showing the distal end of the hook portion curved to the contour of the palm of a hand and to encircle a paddle or oar with the hand in a naturally curved position.

FIG. 3 shows the device in an unmounted configuration showing the wrist strap, padding, and fabric hinge engaging the first end of the hook portion. Also shown are the means for engagement for a wrist watch.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the device.

FIG. 5 depicts the initial rotation of the hook portion on the fabric hinge toward the lower or opposite edge of the wrist strap.

FIG. 6 shows the device with the hook portion rotated to a retracted position with the distal end of the hook portion engaged over the lower edge of the wrist strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in FIGS. 1-6, the preferred embodiments of the present invention in current preferred modes are shown and described. As shown, FIG. 1 depicts the disclosed device 10 in an as-worn position on the wrist of a user. A hook portion 12 is curved to a termination at a distal end 14 and the curve has an arc adapted to removably encircle a shaft of a paddle 16 or an oar.

A removably engageable wrist strap 18 is employed to engage the device 10 to the user's wrist. The wrist strap 18 is elongated and has fastening means such as hook and loop fabric fasteners 20 at opposite distal ends to allow for adjustable encirclement by the strap to engage many size wrists.

FIG. 2 depicts the reverse view of FIG. 1 with the hook portion 12 extending from the wrist band 18 and having a curve terminating at a distal end 14 and engaged around a paddle 16. The distal end 14 is curved to conform to the contour of the user's hand and to encircle a paddle 14 with the hand concurrently in a relaxed and naturally curved position.

In FIG. 3 is shown the wrist band 18 in an unmounted configuration. At one distal end is located hook fabric 22 that is easily and adjustably engageable to the loop fabric 24 fastening material on the opposite end. The hook fabric 22 and loop fabric 24 thereby provide means for removable engagement of the distal ends of the wrist strap to each other. The elongated size of the hook and loop fabric also provides means for adjustment of the size of the wrist band 18 by allowing for engagement of the distal ends in an adjustable overlap. Also shown is the fabric hinge 15 providing means for flexible and rotational engagement of the hook portion 12 to the wrist band 18. So engaged, the hook portion 12, sandwiched between the hand and palm of a user and the oar or paddle, will move in concert with the hand rotating on the wrist of the user during a stroke. Stitching 25 is employed throughout the device 10 to hold the components together, although those skilled in the art will realize other means to hold the components operatively engaged may be employed and such is anticipated within the scope of this patent.

The hook portion 12 is formed of a spine 13 portion that is encased in a sheath 17. The spine 13 is employed in the hook portion 12 to impart flexible rigidity to the hook portion 12. The spine 13 is made from substantially rigid material that provides some flex during use such as rigid plastic, carbon fiber, or fiberglass, or substantially rigid yet flexible metal such as aluminum. It is important to provide this flex as a means for shock absorption and as a means to store energy which is imparted with a slight springing action at the end of a stroke. Covering the spine 13 is the sheath 17 which is best formed of rugged fabric such as seat belt webbing to resist chaffing and provide a pad to the hand of the user from the spine 13. The configuration of the spine 13 engaged within the sheath 17 which is engaged to the wrist band 18 when in the as-worn position of FIG. 2 in combination provides means to transfer force from the paddle to a position on the arm rearward of the hand and palm during the pull portion of the stroke of the paddle 16. This transfer of force from the hand and wrist thereby aids in preventing injuries to tendons of the hand such as Carpel Tunnel Syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries which occur from conventionally gripping and pulling of the paddle.

As noted, a particularly preferred component of the device 10 is a means to retract the hook portion 12 to a removably secure retracted position as shown in FIG. 6. This unique utility function is provided by the combination of the fabric hinge 15 engaging the first end of the sheath 17 encased spine 13 of the hook portion 12 thereby allowing a rotation of the hook portion 12. Rotation of the hook portion 12 allows the distal end of the hook portion to engage over a lower edge 27 of the wrist strap 18. The user can thus rotate the hook portion 12 to the secured and retracted position of FIG. 6 easily and reverse back to the deployed position of FIGS. 1-2.

Shown best in FIG. 3 is also the neoprene lining 29 which is sized slightly wider than the wrist strap 18. The lining 29 provides a padding to the forearm of the user to resist chaffing to the arm from the leading and rear edges of the wrist strap. Colorizing the lining 29 to a bright or fluorescent color provides means easily visually spot the device 10 in its surroundings should it become disengaged from the wrist.

Finally, an especially preferred mode of the device includes a means for engagement to a wristwatch or compass which in the current preferred mode is provided by mounts 33 on the exterior surface of the wrist strap 18. Experimentation has shown that many users would cover their watch with the wrist strap 18 and providing means to engage a watch is especially helpful. These mounts 33, may be hook and loop fabric adapted in size to engage a hook and loop watch band of an existing watch or loops adapted to engage the crossbars of watch bodies. The mounts 33 also provide means to engage a compass to the device 10 which is especially helpful when traversing back country areas.

The wrist mounted paddle gripping device shown in the drawings and described in detail herein, discloses arrangements of elements of particular construction and configuration for illustrating preferred embodiments of structure and method of operation of the present invention. It is to be understood, however, that elements of different construction and configuration and other arrangements thereof, other than those illustrated and described, may be employed for providing a device within the spirit of this invention.

As such, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modifications, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instance some features of the invention could be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. All such changes, alternations and modifications as would occur to those skilled in the art are considered to be within the scope of this invention as broadly defined in the appended claims. 

1. A paddle engagement apparatus adapted for engagement to the arm of a user, comprising: a strap, said strap formed of flexible material, said strap having a length extending along two side edges between a first end and a second end, said strap having a width; means for removable engagement of said first end to said second end whereby said strap is engageable around the arm of a user adjacent to the wrist, in an as-worn position; a hook member, said hook member having a first end and having a distal end opposite said first end; said hook member having a curved portion adjacent to said distal end, said curved portion forming a hooked portion of said hook member; said curved portion shaped to engage upon an exterior surface of an oar or paddle while in a sandwiched position between a palm of the hand of a user and said exterior surface; and means for flexible engagement of said first end of said hook member to said strap whereby said hook member in said sandwiched position is moveable in concert with said hand of said user.
 2. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said hook member rotatable upon said means for flexible engagement from a first position extending from a first of said side edges to a second position; and said distal end of said member rotatable to stowed position with said hooked portion in a removable engagement upon a second of said side edges, opposite said first of said side edges.
 3. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: said hook member being planar and having a spine component surrounded by a cover; said spine component formed of a rigid yet slightly flexible material; said cover formed of a flexible fabric material; and means for engagement of said cover to said means for flexible engagement.
 4. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: said hook being planar and having a spine component surrounded by a cover; said spine component formed of a rigid yet slightly flexible material; said cover formed of a flexible fabric material; and means for engagement of said cover to said means for flexible engagement.
 5. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising: a cushioning layer, said cushioning layer engaged to an interior surface of said strap in a position to be sandwiched between the wrist of said user and said strap when in the as-worn position; and said cushioning layer having a width wider than said width of said strap.
 6. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: a cushioning layer, said cushioning layer engaged to an interior surface of said strap in a position to be sandwiched between the wrist of said user and said strap when in the as-worn position; and said cushioning layer having a width wider than said width of said strap.
 7. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising: a cushioning layer, said cushioning layer engaged to an interior surface of said strap in a position to be sandwiched between the wrist of said user and said strap when in the as-worn position; and said cushioning layer having a width wider than said width of said strap.
 8. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 4 additionally comprising: a cushioning layer, said cushioning layer engaged to an interior surface of said strap in a position to be sandwiched between the wrist of said user and said strap when in the as-worn position; and said cushioning layer having a width wider than said width of said strap.
 9. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for removable engagement of said first end is a fastener, said fastener proving an overlapping engagement of said first end to said second end in a plurality of positions; and said overlapping engagement providing means to adjust said strap to accommodate varying sizes of said arm of said user.
 10. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 2 wherein said means for removable engagement of said first end is a fastener, said fastener proving an overlapping engagement of said first end to said second end in a plurality of positions; and said overlapping engagement providing means to adjust said strap to accommodate varying sizes of said arm of said user.
 11. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for removable engagement of said first end is a fastener, said fastener proving an overlapping engagement of said first end to said second end in a plurality of positions; and said overlapping engagement providing means to adjust said strap to accommodate varying sizes of said arm of said user.
 12. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 4 wherein said means for removable engagement of said first end is a fastener, said fastener proving an overlapping engagement of said first end to said second end in a plurality of positions; and said overlapping engagement providing means to adjust said strap to accommodate varying sizes of said arm of said user.
 13. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 8 wherein said means for removable engagement of said first end is a fastener, said fastener proving an overlapping engagement of said first end to said second end in a plurality of positions; and said overlapping engagement providing means to adjust said strap to accommodate varying sizes of said arm of said user.
 14. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 9 wherein said fastener is hook and loop fabric.
 15. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 10 wherein said fastener is hook and loop fabric.
 16. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fastener is hook and loop fabric.
 17. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 12 wherein said fastener is hook and loop fabric.
 18. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 16 additionally comprising: means to engage a watch to an exterior surface of said strap to a position viewable by said user when said strap is in said as-worn position.
 19. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 17 additionally comprising: means to engage a watch to an exterior surface of said strap to a position viewable by said user when said strap is in said as-worn position.
 20. The paddle engagement apparatus of claim 2 additionally comprising: means to engage a watch to an exterior surface of said strap to a position viewable by said user when said strap is in said as-worn position. 